Duluth continues dominance of Miami

The RedHawks hit four posts and were unable to convert several other close chances as they fell, 3-1 to No. 14 Minnesota-Duluth at Cady Arena.

The Bulldogs extended their unbeaten streak against MU to 11.

Miami (4-6-1) controlled play during the first 14 minutes, but after a defensive-zone turnover, a wrister from the high slot by the Bulldogs’ Jared Thomas was partially deflected by RedHawks goalie Ryan Larkin, popped over the netminder and rolled across the goal line to give UMD the lead.

Miami’s Carson Meyer (photo by Cathy Lachmann/BoB).

A pane of glass broke in the corner of the rink, causing a 15-minute delay and killing any energy remaining from MU’s surge.

Miami tied it less than four minutes into the third period when Louie Belpedio connected on a pass from along the boards to Carson Meyer, who was in the slot. Meyer whipped an off-balance shot that found twine with seven seconds left on a power play.

But Minnesota-Duluth (6-5-2) regained the lead on a man-advantage of its own. With 5:09 left in regulation, Thomas blasted a one-timer past Larkin from the center of the faceoff circle after a long shift in the offensive zone.

Thomas had not scored this season entering Friday.

Again, MU had dictated play prior to that decisive power play.

The Bulldogs sealed it 76 seconds later on a slap shot by Scott Perunovich from just inside the blue line, as his shot slipped through Larkin’s pads.

Miami had rang the puck off posts twice in the same shift earlier in the period and finished with 15 shots on goal in that frame.

The RedHawks outshot UMD, 29-19 and have led on the shot counter in eight of their 11 contests this season.

Meyer snapped a six-game scoreless streak. Belpedio picked up a point for the second streak tilt, and Karch Bachman picked up the other helper, his second point in three games.

Miami’s power play goal was its first in five games.

The RedHawks are now 0-9-2 in their last 11 games against Minnesota-Duluth. MU’s last win against the Bulldogs came on Feb. 21, 2015.

Miami falls to 1-3-1 in the NCHC and is winless in its last four, going 0-3-1.